Unstable bottle

ABSTRACT

An unstable receptacle for storing a volume of a liquid, including a container and a closure arrangement. The container has an opening. The container is configured for holding the volume of the liquid. The container is formed, such that, when the container is placed in any orientation upon a level surface at least a third of the volume of the liquid spills out of the container. The closure arrangement is configured to seal the container.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a receptacle for beverages and, in particular, it concerns an unstable receptacle for beverages.

By way of introduction, receptacles for beverages such as beer and cider have remained unchanged for years. Slight improvements have occurred, such as, crown tops for beer bottles and novel ring-pull devices for canned beverages.

There is therefore a need for a novel receptacle for beverages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an unstable beverage receptacle construction and method of packing thereof.

According to the teachings of the present invention there is provided, an unstable receptacle for storing a volume of a liquid, comprising: (a) a container having an opening, the container being configured for holding the volume of the liquid, the container being formed, such that, when the container is placed in any orientation upon a level surface, at least one third of the volume of the liquid spills out of the container; and (b) a closure arrangement configured to seal the container.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the closure arrangement is configured as a non-resealable seal.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the non-resealable seal is a crown cap.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the non-resealable seal is a ring-pull device According to a further feature of the present invention, the container is formed as a glass bottle.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the container is formed as a metal can.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the container has a curved base.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the curved base has a center of curvature, the container having a center of gravity, the center of gravity being above the center of curvature when the opening of the container is oriented upwards.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the curved base is formed as a hemisphere.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the container has a base, the base having an image disposed thereon.

According to the teachings of the present invention there is also provided, an unstable receptacle for storing a volume of a liquid, comprising: (a) a container having an opening, the container being configured for holding the volume of the liquid, the container being formed, such that, when the container is placed in any orientation upon a level surface, at least one third of the volume of the liquid spills out of the container; and (b) a handle disposed on the container.

According to the teachings of the present invention there is also provided a package of receptacles, comprising: (a) a plurality of containers, each of the containers having an opening and a closure arrangement configured to seal the containers, each of the containers holding a volume of liquid therein, at least one of the containers being formed, such that, when the one container is placed in any orientation upon a level surface, at least a third of the volume of the liquid spills out of the one container; and (b) a packaging arrangement configured for packaging the containers together, wherein in a display orientation of the containers and the packaging arrangement, the one container is orientated such that the closure arrangement of the one container faces downwards.

According to a further feature of the present invention, in a display orientation of the containers and the packaging arrangement, all of the containers are orientated, such that, the closure arrangement of each of the containers faces downwards.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the closure arrangement is configured as a non-resealable seal.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the non-resealable seal is at least one of a crown cap and a ring-pull device.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the one container is formed as at least one of glass bottle and a metal can.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the one container has a curved base.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the curved base has a center of curvature, the one container having a center of gravity, the center of gravity being above the center of curvature when the opening of the one container is oriented upwards.

According to a further feature of the present invention, the container has a base, the base having an image disposed thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic isometric view of an unstable receptacle that is constructed and operable in accordance with a most preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic isometric view of an unstable receptacle that is constructed and operable in accordance with a first alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic isometric view of an unstable receptacle that is constructed and operable in accordance with a second alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic isometric view of a package of a plurality of the receptacles of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a schematic isometric view of a package of a plurality of the receptacles of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic isometric view of another package of a plurality of the receptacles of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is an unstable receptacle construction and method of packaging thereof.

The principles and operation of an unstable receptacle according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a schematic isometric view of an unstable receptacle 10 that is constructed and operable in accordance with a most preferred embodiment of the invention. Unstable receptacle 10 includes a container 12, which is formed as a glass bottle. Container 12 has an opening 14 and a closure arrangement 16. Container 12 is configured for holding a volume of liquid. Closure arrangement 16 is configured to seal container 12. Closure arrangement 16 is typically configured as a non-resealable seal, such as a crown cap. A “Non-resealable seal” is defined as a seal that is not designed for convenient repeated sealing. Container 12 is formed, such that, when container 12 is unsealed and is placed in any orientation upon a level surface, at least one third, typically a majority, of the volume of the liquid spills out of container 12.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which is a cross-sectional view of unstable receptacle 10 of FIG. 1. Container 12 generally has a curved base 18, which is preferably formed as a hemisphere. Curved base 18 has a center of curvature 20. Container 12, when empty, has a center of gravity 22. Container 12 is formed, such that, center of gravity 22 is above center of curvature 20 when opening 14 of container 12 is oriented upwards, thereby making container 12 unstable. An image can be disposed on to curved base 18, such as an advertisement.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which is a schematic isometric view of an unstable receptacle 24 that is constructed and operable in accordance with a first alternate embodiment of the invention. Unstable receptacle 24 includes a container 26 having an opening 25 and a non-resealable closure arrangement 28. Container 26 is formed as a metal can. Closure arrangement 28 is typically a ring-pull device. A ring-pull device is defined as a seal, which is either removed from container 26 or at least partially pushed into container 26. Additionally, the ring-pull device may have a ring or tab or similar device, which enables opening of closure arrangement 28. Container 26 is formed, such that, when container 26 is unsealed and is placed in any orientation upon a level surface, a majority of the volume of the liquid spills out of container 26. Container 26 generally has a curved base 29, which is preferably formed as a hemisphere. Container 26, when empty, has a center of gravity which is above the center of curvature of curved base 29 when opening 25 of container 26 is oriented upwards, thereby making container 26 unstable. An image can be disposed on to curved base 29, such as an advertisement.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which is a schematic isometric view of an unstable receptacle 30 that is constructed and operable in accordance with a second alternate embodiment of the invention. Unstable receptacle 30 includes a container 32 and a handle 34. Handle 34 is disposed on container 32. Container 32 and handle 34 are generally formed from glass, metal or plastic. Container 32 has a curved base 35, typically formed as a hemisphere, thereby making unstable receptacle 30 unstable.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. FIG. 5 is a schematic isometric view of a package 36 of a plurality of receptacles 38. FIG. 6 is a schematic isometric view of a package 36 of a plurality of receptacles 38. Receptacles 38 are unstable receptacles, for example, a plurality of unstable receptacles 10 (as shown in FIG. 5) or a plurality of unstable receptacles 24 (as shown in FIG. 6). Each receptacle 38 has a hemispherical base 40 and a closure arrangement 46. Hemispherical base 40 typically has an image 42 disposed thereon. Image 42 is generally an eye-catching design or advertisement. Groups of typically four or six receptacles 38 are packed together using a packaging arrangement 44. Packaging arrangement 44 is generally a plastic wrapping, which is applied to the receptacles 38 using shrink-wrap techniques. Receptacles 38 are packed so that in a display orientation of package 36, at least one, preferably all, of receptacles 38 are orientated, such that, closure arrangements 46 of receptacles 38 face downwards. In other words, hemispherical base 40 with image 42 faces upwards. A display orientation is defined as the preferred orientation of package 36 within a retail outlet.

Reference is now made to FIG. 7, which is a schematic isometric view of another package 37 of a plurality of receptacles 39. Receptacles 39 are unstable receptacles, for example, a plurality of unstable receptacles 10. Groups of typically four or six receptacles 39 are packed together using a packaging arrangement 41. Packaging arrangement 41 is generally a cardboard template having round holes for inserting receptacles 39 therein. Receptacles 39 are typically packed either with their bases 43 facing downward (as shown) or upward (not shown).

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather, the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and sub-combinations of the various features described hereinabove, as well as variations and modifications thereof that are not in the prior art which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description. In particular, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the unstable receptacle of the present invention can be implemented using other unstable bases, for example, but not limited to, a cone shaped base, a pyramid shaped base or a pointed base. Additionally, the closure arrangement of the unstable receptacle of the present invention can be implemented using other closures, for example, but not limited to, a cork, a plastic screw cap or a metal screw cap. 

1. An unstable receptacle for storing a volume of a liquid, comprising: (a) a container having an opening, said container being configured for holding the volume of the liquid, said container being formed, such that, when said container is placed in any orientation upon a level surface, at least one third of the volume of the liquid spills out of said container; and (b) a closure arrangement configured to seal said container.
 2. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein said closure arrangement is configured as a non-resealable seal.
 3. The receptacle of claim 2, wherein said non-resealable seal is a crown cap.
 4. The receptacle of claim 2, wherein said non-resealable seal is a ring-pull device.
 5. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein said container is formed as a glass bottle.
 6. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein said container is formed as a metal can.
 7. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein said container has a curved base.
 8. The receptacle of claim 7, wherein said curved base has a center of curvature, said container having a center of gravity, said center of gravity being above said center of curvature when said opening of said container is oriented upwards.
 9. The receptacle of claim 7, wherein said curved base is formed as a hemisphere.
 10. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein said container has a base, said base having an image disposed thereon.
 11. An unstable receptacle for storing a volume of a liquid, comprising: (a) a container having an opening, said container being configured for holding the volume of the liquid, said container being formed, such that, when said container is placed in any orientation upon a level surface, at least one third of the volume of the liquid spills out of said container; and (b) a handle disposed on said container.
 12. A package of receptacles, comprising: (a) a plurality of containers, each of said containers having an opening and a closure arrangement configured to seal said containers, each of said containers holding a volume of liquid therein, at least one of said containers being formed, such that, when said one container is placed in any orientation upon a level surface, at least a third of said volume of said liquid spills out of said one container; and (b) a packaging arrangement configured for packaging said containers together, wherein in a display orientation of said containers and said packaging arrangement, said one container is orientated such that said closure arrangement of said one container faces downwards.
 13. The package of claim 12, wherein in a display orientation of said containers and said packaging arrangement, all of said containers are orientated, such that, said closure arrangement of each of said containers faces downwards.
 14. The package of claim 12, wherein said closure arrangement is configured as a non-resealable seal.
 15. The package of claim 14, wherein said non-resealable seal is at least one of a crown cap and a ring-pull device.
 16. The package of claim 12, wherein said one container is formed as at least one of glass bottle and a metal can.
 17. The package of claim 12, wherein said one container has a curved base.
 18. The package of claim 17, wherein said curved base has a center of curvature, said one container having a center of gravity, said center of gravity being above said center of curvature when said opening of said one container is oriented upwards.
 19. The package of claim 1, wherein said container has a base, said base having an image disposed thereon. 